Fashion designer Stella McCartney and her husband, Alasdhair Willis, have been granted planning permission to build a £5 million home in the Scottish Highlands after a three-year battle. The property, located on the remote Moidart peninsula overlooking Loch Ailort, faced objections over its modernist design and potential threat to local otters.
The split-level house will feature a turf roof and natural stone walls, sitting 30 metres above sea level on a rocky outcrop known as Commando Rock. The site, used for World War II training, is also called Creag na Speireig in Gaelic, meaning crag of the sparrowhawk.
Highland council officers recommended approval subject to conditions, including wildlife protection measures and public access to the beach below. NatureScot will license the plans after a wildlife survey, requiring cameras during construction to monitor otters and their cubs.
Local councillor Bill Lobban described the design as 'hideous' but acknowledged it was an improvement over the previous permission on the site. McCartney and Willis, who married on the Isle of Bute in 2003, plan to use the house as their permanent residence, not a holiday home.
